Two Backpackers

Photo of the Day: Church of Guadalupe in Granada, Nicaragua

| by Aracely on April 6th, 2024 | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

The Church of Guadalupe was founded in 1624-1626 by Benito de Baltodano monk. It is situated in the Calzada street (Calle la Calzada) near Nicaragua Lake. During Colonial times the church was very important because of its strategic position situated at the entrance of the town from the lake. However, this made it vulnerable and was destroyed by pirates. It was rebuilt in 1945 which is the structure that we can see today.

Church of Guadalupe in Granada, Nicaragua

Photo of the Day: Panoramic View of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

| by Aracely on March 25th, 2024 | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

San Juan del Sur is a coastal town on the Pacific Ocean, in south-west Nicaragua. The town is a popular tourist location because of its many nearby and spectacular beaches. San Juan del Sur is popular among surfers and is a vacation spot for many Nicaraguan families and foreign tourists, who consider it an unspoiled alternative to Costa Rica. Wikipedia

During our visit to San Juan del Sur, we took surf lessons at Casa Oro Hostel.  Transportation, two hour lessons and board rentals were $22 USD.

Panaramic View of San Juan del Sur

Photo of the Day: Volcano Cerro Negro’s Smoking Sulfur Crater in Nicaragua

| by Aracely on March 8th, 2024 | 1 Comment » | Photo of the Day

Cerro Negro volcano has only been around for a period of 159 years and it has erupted at least 23 times, which is highly active compared to most volcanoes. This pictures shows the contrasting colors between the volcano’s crater and its surrounding landscapes.

Volcano Cerro Negro's Crater

Photo of the Day: Volcano Cerro Negro in Nicaragua

| by Jason on February 22nd, 2024 | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

Cerro Negro is a volcano in the Cordillera de los Maribios mountain range in Nicaragua, about 10 km from the village of Malpaisillo. It is a very new volcano, the youngest in Central America, having first appeared in April 1850.  Despite its youth, Cerro Negro has been one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua, with its latest eruption occurring in 1999.  Since its birth in 1850, it has erupted 23 times, making Cerro Negro the most active cinder cone volcano in the history of our planet.

It consists of a gravelly basaltic cinder cone, which contrasts greatly with the surrounding verdant hillsides, and gives rise to its name, which means Black Hill. – Wikipedia

We took this photo while participating in Volcano Boarding through Big Foot Hostel in Leon. You are sure to get some serious scrapes and burns boarding down this gravel volcano.

Volcano Cerro Negro in Nicaragua

Photo of the Day: Volcano El Hoyo, Nicaragua

| by Aracely on February 15th, 2024 | 2 Comments » | Photo of the Day

There are a couple of theories that attempt to explain the mysterious hole on the side of Volcano El Hoyo. Some say it’s a sink hole, while most believe it’s a meteor, but not enough research has been done to know for certain how this huge hole got there. Our campsite had an amazing view of not only El Hoyo, but multiple surrounding volcanoes. We hired Quetzaltrekkers, for our 2-day trek. Quetzaltrekkers is a great organization that organizes trips and gives back to the local community.

Volcano El Hoyo, Leon, Nicaragua

Photo of the Day: Islands of Granada, Nicaragua

| by Aracely on February 9th, 2024 | 2 Comments » | Photo of the Day

Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America and lies just off the coast of Granada. The fresh water lake is famous for its sharks, the only lake where sharks live. Nicaragua’s economic situation make it difficult to clean and conserve the heavily polluted lake, where over 300 islands reside. Some of these islands are full of wildlife and a variety of vegetation, while others have become private residences with incredible mansions jutting out from the horizon.

Islands of Granada, Nicaragua

RTW Trip Budgeting for Central America

| by Aracely on January 26th, 2024 | 24 Comments » | Trip Planning

iXpenseIt iPhone Application

One of the most important concerns regarding long-term travel is finances.  There are many questions that bombard our minds, make us nervous, and lead us to shy away from the idea of traveling for longer than a week.

Can I afford it?  How much will it cost?  How long can I travel on a set amount? What will my financial situation be when I get back? And so on.  The answers to these questions can be different for everyone.

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